Slowing Into the New Year...

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37:7

Having just returned from a trip up north and venturing through an ice storm that left several vehicles off the road in ditches, I come to you this morning with a message for our daily lives and especially our lives as we approach a new year. 

As I drove through this ice storm and witnessed what happened to those that were in a hurry, my focus began on "Slowing Down". As I idled down the interstate and as Lynne prayed and white knuckled the door handle, I began to think about how we all enter every new year.

At this time of the year, we rush into making New Years resolutions in haste and we beat ourselves up when we fail to live up to our resolution expectations, or when we see others succeed where we have failed. Beloved, my prayer for you this day is that you pray and slow down before God before considering plans for your life and the new year. 

Just as those drivers that went into the ditch when driving to fast in an ice storm, we to can enter a spiritual ditch when we move to fast without slowing down to take God along with us. God has a plan for all of our lives and each plan may be different for different people, may you be still and wait for God's word and call for your own life direction. By doing this you will stay on the road of life and faith, while others venture to places without God and ask themselves: "Why"? 

Beloved, slow down, breath and pray and take the Lord into the new year with you. You will be glad that you did.

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim.

Attitude Is A Gift From God!

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: A Shining Light in the Darkness

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: A Shining Light in the Darkness: John 1:4 New International Version (NIV) 4  In him was life,  and that life was the light  of all mankind. It was the height ...

A Shining Light in the Darkness

John 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

It was the height of World War II in the Pacific and a group of internees (American and British) captured by the Japanese army were being transferred by ship to a starvation camp on Christmas Eve. The last thing that the prisoners heard from their Japanese captives as they locked them inside a ships hold was: "American submarines are thick in these waters and you will probably be torpedoed".

With this all that the captives could gather was darkness and isolation in their tomb that was the hold of a cargo ship. Those gathered could only hear weeping and cries for help, when out of the darkness a ladies voice singing Silent Night Holy Night was heard. It was said that when the ladies voice was heard, the weeping slowed and came to a stop.

Instead of fear, the light of hope entered the ships hold as others began to sing along with the lady. With this the dark space became a church as prayers and praise filled the darkness with the shining light of the Messiah come two thousand years ago as well as that night in a dark ship hold.
(Source: Taking the High Ground by Colonel Jeff O'Leary)

Brothers and Sisters as you approach this Christmas go forward in the understanding and the hope that nothing is so dark that the light of Jesus Christ cannot shine through it. Turn your face to the light and its glow will be eternal.This is the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that God sent to a suffering world in the form of a baby boy named Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas
Pastor Tim Polley

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: The Christmas Legacy

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: The Christmas Legacy

The Christmas Legacy

What's Love Got to Do With It!

Genesis 2:18-25 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.


This morning while watching a television program I watched a report on parenting or co-parenting without attachment, meaning a man and a woman have a child together without any romantic relationship or commitment. In this scenario, the two people agree to co-parent the child outside emotional investment  and commitment to each other. 

Beloved, the fourth week of Advent is all about love, and the love of God in delivering Jesus our Messiah. God sent Jesus to be in relationship with each and every one of us and God created the relationship of child procreation to be all about love as well, and not just an act to make a child. 

Yes, love has everything to do with it and God created man and woman to be committed to one another in love and relationship as they bring children into the world, and as they nurture their children to adulthood. Can you imagine God creating us, just for the act and not relationship? 

Brothers and Sisters, God loves us and calls us to relationship with Him and with our husbands and wives. God has the expectations that just as He shows us love in relationship, that we, as God's people, will steward our children through our physical, spiritual, and emotional relationships as to raise them as a people prepared for a committed relationship as well.

My prayer for all of us as we prepare for Advent love is that we understand that love and relationship has everything to do with the arrival of the Messiah, and it has everything to do with our family structures and commitment to one another.
Love one another and love your children! What does love have to do with it? "Everything".

Pastor Tim.

The Present Messiah

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

This weekend I had the privilege of being present while several children visited Santa Claus. As they sat on Santa's lap, Jolly Old Saint Nick would ask them: "What do you want for Christmas"? As I watched these children respond, two particular children stood out because of their total opposite responses. When the first girl was asked by Santa what she wanted, she responded: "Whatever you bring me will be fine". When the second girl was asked, she responded with true decision and preparation, and even gave Santa a page from an advertisement that had her actual request (along with the inventory number) on it and left it with Santa.

Beloved, both these answers were good in the following ways:

The young girl that stated anything would be fine left her choice up to someone else in the trust that whatever was delivered would fit the intended need. The young girl with the advertisement clipping came prepared to ask for what she wanted.

Beloved as we approach Christmas I believe that we can glean something from both these young people:

1. Whatever God delivers to us will be just what we need: The people that first awaited the Messiah believed that he would come like a military general to defeat those in power and to free those in bondage. Instead, the Messiah came as a baby that would fulfill the role of the "Suffering Servant" that would free us from bondage my taking our sins upon himself.
2. God's people must come prepared: Prepared in study, prepared in prayer, and prepared in faith that God will deliver just what His creation needs, just at the right time and the right place. At the time of Christ's birth, a few prepared for his arrival and traveled far distances to come and worship the promised Messiah.

Brothers and Sisters, my prayer for you is that as we travel through Advent together, that we go in the confidence that God through His Son Jesus Christ will supply our true needs, and not just our wants. Additionally, as we await the coming of the Messiah, let us be prepared by reading His Word, and being in constant prayer communication with him.

What Do You Want For Christmas?

Pastor Tim.

FCC Benton

On Fire For The Messiah!

On Fire For The Messiah!

From Black Friday to Bright Light Wednesday

Matthew 2:1 ESV 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem

Recently, many of us have experienced commercials on television and social media that were meant to guide us to great deals and great buying experiences on the Friday after Thanksgiving which is called "Black Friday".

Instead of leading me to great sales, I believe that black Friday is an opportunity to look for the light of God and the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Yes, we have commercials and the Internet, but in the time of Christ's birth the wise men had a star to guide them to the true Christmas gift.

While many of us woke up and ventured out into the early morning darkness of black Friday shopping, wise men long ago followed a star in the darkness that guided to the bright light of God.

Brothers as Sisters as we concentrate on the approaching Christmas, my prayer for you is that follow Christ to Christmas with as much energy and zeal as you have in making your last minute great deal purchases.

The true gift of Christmas is the gift that God gave us through Jesus Christ as to leave the darkness of the world and to enter the light of eternity. May you feel a sense of calmness and peace and urgency as we approach the arrival of the Messiah, sent to remove us from bondage to freedom and from the darkness of consumerism to the light of healing, forgiveness, redemption and relationship through God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim.

The Thanksgiving of Thanksgiving Peace

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,that it may give grace to those who hear.

James 3:5-6 ESV

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!6 And the tongue is a fire,a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body,setting on fire the entire course of life,and set on fire by hell.

On September 11, 1995, a squirrel climbed on the Metro-North Railroad power lines near New York City. This set off an electrical surge, which eventually left over 47,000 commuters stuck without a way to get home. Something as small as a squirrel can cause much damage, additionally, something as small as one's tongue can also cause significant damage.

Brothers and Sisters, as we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, let us make sure that they are happy times that build loving and positive memories. Make sure that as we celebrate God's bounty upon us, we also celebrate through communicating positive and uplifting words to those that we gather with.

My prayer for you this day is that you build memories, eat well, pray well, travel well, and build stories of happiness and not ones that involve anger and possible visits by law enforcement.

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim.

The Language of Understanding

A Life of Sacrifice

Patience + Praise = Thanksgiving

Patitence in the Lord, Praise in the Lord, and Thanksgivng unto the Lord is the true formula to an abundant life in Christ. This Sunday I will speak from Isaiah 12: 2-6 in reference to the P+P=T formula at First Christian Church in Benton Kentucky. Church school begins at 9:45 AM and Worship at 10:45 AM. Join us at 2515 South Main Street in Benton Kentucky (Across the street from the Priceless IGA).

One Tom, Two Don's and A Kevin

John 15:13

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Tom was was in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.
Don was in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Don was in the Army during the Korean Conflict.
Kevin was in the Marine Corps during the Cold War.

The names I just listed are of my family and their military service, whether it was driving a truck in England for the Air Force, being an electrician on an aircraft carrier, working in a library in Soul Korea writing citations, or being assigned to a Marine rifle company in Okinawa Japan the value is the same, they served!

As we celebrate this Veterans Day 2013, let us all gather and celebrate in Thanksgiving all those that have put on uniforms of the United States Armed Forces. 

Small or little, the sacrifice is the same in the fact that they bridged the gap that kept us protected and living in freedom. My prayer for you this day is that you thank a veteran and let them know how much they are valued, respected and loved.

Those that have served in the military share one word that they all have in common: Sacrifice! As we celebrate the sacrifice of our veterans today, let us never forget the ultimate sacrifice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made for us on the cross.

To my dad Tom, my step-dad Don and my father-in-law Don, who have all gone to be with the Lord, I say thank you. And to my brother Kevin, thank you and happy birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Thank You for Your Service.

God is Watching!

!

Going to Sunday School

Will You Finish?

Truer Words Were Never Spoken

Feed the Need

Isaiah 58:10 

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Last weekend I worked at a local grocery store collecting food for the Marshall County Caring Needline Feed the Need endeavor, and as always I was blessed to witness the generosity of Marshall County citizens. What fed my soul were some of the words that were spoken to me as people donated food to to this worthy organization.

Here are a couple samples:

1. "They have helped me when I was down, and had no food".
2. "I have been there and hope not to be there again".

Yes, people helping people is the true soul strengthener during this time of the year. The Book of Isaiah tells us that the true soul strength that we gather is in reference to neighbor love, and in the fact that when we help our neighbors the promises of God are fulfilled. God tells us that if we do something in love in His name, something will happen and God will restore what has been broken.

Beloved, my prayer for you this day is that you strengthen your souls by helping the needy that come across your path, by pouring yourselves into those that are hungry, those that are afflicted, and those that are lonely. By doing this the light of God will blast through the darkness and restore brokenness to those that could only see darkness and depression.

Blessings and Peace.
Pastor Tim

Seasons Change

As I sit in my office at church writing my sermon on this Halloween 2013 morning, I could be depressed at the stormy weather and the fact that we had to postpone our yearly Trunk or Treat ministry until tomorrow night. Instead as I sit and write, I hear the sounds of the cool wind blowing outside as I sit inside a warm building drinking warm coffee. 

No, the depression of festivities and the weather will not get me down today, because I focus on God's promises instead of earthly celebrations. Daniel 2:21 tells us: He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 

Additionally, God's promises and tells us in Philippians 4:19: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Beloved as the rain falls, as the wind blows, understand that God is in control and seasons change according to God's plan and God's purposes. Yes, God is in control and the earth is doing what it is supposed to do as it prepares for changing seasons, and as we prepare for the planned and unplanned changes in our lives.

My prayer for you this day is that you will sit where it is warm and comfortable and listen for God's changes, understanding that we are to place our total trust in Him through his Son Jesus Christ.

This is the day that the Lord has made.
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Talk

The Value of Twenty Dollars and Eighty Five Cents!

Proverbs 10:9 ESV 

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

There is a story about an armored car that turned over, dumping its contents all over the city street. Several people were seen swarming over the accident scene, picking up the money that had swept over the street.

Immediately after only two people came forward and gave the authorities the money that they had picked up, one being a sixth grade boy with eighty five cents and the other a mother of six who picked up twenty dollars in quarters. When asked why they returned the money, the woman and the boy stated that the money did not belong to them and turning it in was the right thing to do.

Authorities say that over $500.000 was taken off the street and all that was returned was twenty dollars and eighty five cents. 

Brothers and Sisters, our treasure is not here on earth, it is within the Kingdom of Heaven. My prayer for us all this week is that we will be like the young boy and the mother of six, two people that truly walk in integrity and truly understand the straight path that God has placed them on.

This is the day that the Lord has made

Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Being as visible on the inside as well as the outs...

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Being as visible on the inside as well as the outs...: Hey Did You Cut Yourself Shaving This Morning? 1 Samuel 16:7    But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the he...

Being as visible on the inside as well as the outside!

Hey Did You Cut Yourself Shaving This Morning?

1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

Have you ever had one of those Monday morning's when you were behind from the very start? Ours began this morning with our sleeping through the alarm and Ben's schoolbus. As I entered the gym (late of course), I had a feeling it was going to be "One of Those Monday's". 

So I got home showered and proceeded to cut myself shaving, not just cutting myself but cutting an ear 'Imagine That"! So as I proceed about my day, every person I met started their greeting with the following line: "Did you cut yourself shaving"? 

Well I began to think about how truly noticable we are on the outside, and wondered what it would be like if people truly were able to see if we had been cut our damaged or rejoicing on the inside? Today's society is all about outward appearance, when they should also be concerned about the person's appearance and welfare on the inside. 

My prayer for us all this day is that as much as we look to someone's outward appearance we look to the inward appearance to see the heart of the person that lies inside the beauty of God's wonderful and beloved creation.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Pastor Tim.

The Meat That Makes a Complete Meal

The Smile of God/The Smile of A Child

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us--Psalm 67:1 NIV

Recently I held a small baby in worship, and as I presented him to the congregation the baby smiled at the entire congregation. Needless to say that this smile of unconditional love from a baby melted the hearts of the entire body assembled in worship that morning.

As I carried the smiling baby back to his mother I began to feel that I had just witnessed what the love of God must me like. Does God smile? Psalm 67:1 tells us that God is gracious and that God blesses us and that his face shines upon us. Additionally, we were made in God's image meaning that if we smile, God surely has to smile, and if we weep God must surely weep.

My prayer for you this week is that you smile at somebody with the innocence of a child, and may that smile be done unconditionally. Beloved in this world that we live live in, we truly need more smiles and need to truly love others as to be the Body of Christ that smiles upon the world in His name.

This Is The Smile That God Has Made!
Pastor Tim

What Defines a Hero?

Encountering Emotional and Psychological Vampires

Chimes in the wind.

Jeremiah 33:3

English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Recently I purchased my wife some wind chimes and I placed them on the deck outside our bedroom window. Over this last week I was able to hear the sweet sound of the chimes as they blew in the wind, making different sounds with each gust of wind. I began to think that the voice of God must be just like musical chimes in the fact that each sound is sweet, different and somewhat calming in the storms of life.

As we all walk our paths this week and listen to the sounds of a Kentucky Fall, and as the the wind blows through the trees, my prayer is that you listen intently for God's Word for your life. Many times we are asking God questions and yet we are to busy or inattentive to listen for his answer. 

It may not be wind chimes that speak to you, but go in the knowledge that God is still speaking, still answering the questions of his creation. It may not be the sound of his screaming in the storm, but rather his whisper in the storm that we need to be listening for.

Beloved, listen for God's message for your life this week and He will provide the answers to the questions that you can't answer alone.

This is the day that the Lord has made
Pastor Tim

Memories of Gramdma B

1 Timothy 5:10 ESV 

And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

When having times of stress, time of non-success, and times when my emotions stray from anything but happy, I look back on great memories. I'm often drawn to thoughts of my dads mother (Grandma B). Visits to grandma b's house were always adventures in the eating worlds best food and receiving unconditional love.

My grandma b was always the worlds best listener, confidant and the only one besides my mom that could put my dad in his place. Yes, visions of grandmother never fade, even these many years after her passing.

I believe that heaven will be like the worlds best trip to grandma's house in the fact that I will see my grandma again and love will be flowing, the food will be awesome and the experience will never end as it did on Sunday afternoons.

My prayer for you all this week is that your visions and memories bring you enough joy and happiness to sustain you through your week. Brothers and Sisters know that God loves you all so very much and has set forth an eternity for us that is beyond expectations, and memories of trips to grandmas house.

May your memories be comforting this week

Pastor Tim.

Actions Speak Louder

Yesterday I was discussing a previous FCC message about the love words that husbands and wives use with one another. After reading my message our church secretary stated:"That's a good message, but actions also speak louder than words"!

Well as I thought about it, I decided to make this a part II to my previous message on love words. As I prayed about this message I was led to: 

James 1:23-25 ESVFor if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

So as we go forward this day and speak words of love to our spouses, let us also understand that we must act on the words of love that we speak. Words are nothing unless they can be backed up with the affection and promises that the words convey.

My prayer for us all this day is that when we refer to our spouses as honey,baby,or dear, or sweetheart, we develop ways and actions to make our words truthful as well as endearing.

God's Many Blessings

Pastor Tim 

Name Calling

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Recently while experiencing the life that God has blessed  me with, I have been able to overhear couples speaking to one another. The words that touched my heart were were words and comments that began or ended with "babe, honey, or sweetie". 

It wasn't the words that attracted my attention, but rather the love and respect of relationship that was dripping from these words of love. When we address our spouses how often do we speak words that reflect our love and our need to be in relationship partnership with them? 

Beloved, the relationship of marriage is a partnership that is made in covenant with our Heavenly Father, and this partnership will have bad days and good days. Only through mutual love and mutual relationship in Jesus Christ can these relationships stay strong.

My prayer for you all this day is that you will find love words to speak to and about your spouse. May the words of our mouths express to our loved ones the love of Christ Jesus, as well as the love that Christ has given to us in our marriage relationships.

In the love words of Christ

Pastor Tim

New Life, New Day, New Promise!

New Life, New Day, New Promise!

2 Corinthians 5:17  

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

As I come to you this morning we have baptized two people and visited with a family that has welcomed a new baby to their family, and met with another family about dedicating their child. Yes,the mantra of this message is about a New Life, New Day, and a New Promise in the fact that the love,and the forgiveness of Christ was given for all who just turn to him.

As we enter this Monday morning, we that are followers of Christ understand that this is not just another day, but rather a new day of opportunities as a new creation to share the gospel. Yesterday I shared the message that the past is the past and everyday is a new opportunity to make positive choices and positive decisions. 

In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he states that his past was horrible and if God could forgive him, anyone could be forgiven. When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior we understood that we are a new creation and we are as a new born child in the fact that we have been forgiven and have a fresh start to begin again.

Often we find that it is harder to forgive ourselves and we are harder on ourselves in reference to our past. My prayer for you is that you understand that today is a new day and that through Christ you are a new creation with new possibilities and new promises because of Christ Jesus.

Be New Today

Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Jeff Billingsly Comes to Marshall County on Septem...

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Jeff Billingsly Comes to Marshall County on Septem...: Citizens and Emergency Services Welcome Jeff

The Christian Mantra

Psalm 119:15 

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

Between last night and this morning I have heard the word Mantra used in reference to Diana Nyad's focus on a phrase that she repeated as to give her strength during her amazing swim from Cuba to Florida. So what is this Mantra that we keep hearing about? Websters dictionary defines a Mantra as: a mystical formula of invocation or incantation (as in Hinduism). 

For Christians we call Mantra something different in the fact that when we need strength in adversity we journey to.

1. Mediation 
2. Prayer

Father John Main is quoted as describing the Christian meditation in the following:

"Just imagine for a moment a vast, dark, empty hall. Each time you say your mantra it is like lighting a small weak candle. And I think so often it seems to us that just as we light one, a previous one gets blown out. But very gradually the dawn comes and you begin to realize that the whole hall is flooded with light. The wonder of meditation is that this revelation that the light has conquered the darkness and that Jesus is the light becomes universal in your experience. Everything and everyone is now flooded, illuminated with this light."

Brothers and Sisters: My prayer for you this week is that your Mantra be through prayer and meditation and that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ turns your darkness into his revealed light, that gives you the strength to reach the distant shores of your journey.

This is the day that Lord has made.

Pastor Tim